We love to celebrate at summer camp!

At camp there are millions of reasons to be happy!

Let’s face it, there are a million reasons to be happy and celebrate something at summer camp. Perhaps it’s the first day of summer camp or even the last day of summer camp. Maybe your team just dominated the sack race or you cooked the best ever hot dog over the campfire. It doesn’t matter how small or large your accomplishment is, the key is to remember to live in the moment and enjoy it! Camp is your time to get away and maybe explore the side of you that you’re afraid to back home. Set yourself free and let your fun flag fly! Find the positive in all things and have a good time in doing so. So how do you celebrate?

 

Buddy the Elf from the Christmas classic movie “Elf” once said “the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear”. While it may not be winter or the holidays, that saying still holds true year round! Singing is c†ontagious as poison ivy and can spread just as easily. All it takes is one or two people to get in the spirit and others will catch on and join in. Don’t think twice, don’t worry about anyone else or if they think you’re silly. In fact, the sillier and more off-key the better! This is your time to enjoy yourself and that’s why we all go to camp in the first place, right? Grab some friends and sing a camp song, a top 40 song or even write your own song and the misadventures of going to the bathroom in the middle of the night! Or even sing the Baby Shark song should the mood grab you…okay, maybe not that one. Some lines aren’t meant to be crossedJ

 

Now what good is singing a tune if you don’t have a dance to go with it? The same thought process can be followed with dancing as you did with singing. Don’t think too much and just let it happen and take the goofiness to a whole new level. Dab, shoop or floss your way until you’re bursting with laughter. “Dance like no one is watching” isn’t just a saying, it’s a great motto to use while celebrating life and your time at camp. The truth is that anyone can dance, despite what your conscience might tell you. Let yourself go and see where the beat takes you.

 

We’ve all been in a situation where you wake up in your cabin in the morning and look out the window with excitement for the new day, only to be discouraged by the sight and sound of rain falling down. “My day is ruined” and “Now what?” are all thoughts that cross our minds when we see nothing but dark skies and dampness. The rain may keep you from doing your normal activities, but it also opens up so many other opportunities that didn’t exist the day before. So take those dance moves outside and find a puddle to stomp and splash in. There’s something extremely satisfying and enjoyable about dancing in the rain. It’s freeing and not something you can do every day. Just make sure you wait out any lightning indoors… you don’t want to literally do the “Electric Slide”!

 

“2, 4, 6, 8 who do we appreciate? Camp!” Cheering is a fantastic way of celebrating summer camp and building spirit and unity. There are so many existing cheers you can utilize and bring to your camp group or have fun with it and make up your own. It’s easy! “Hey hey what do you say? We’re going to have a great time at camp today!” Okay, so they aren’t all winners, but with a little thought you can come up with something chant-worthy. Cheers can be used during competitions to encourage your teammates or just something to shout out enthusiastically throughout the day. Take your energy and mold it into something audible and express yourself.

 

Summer camp is a big part of so many people’s lives. It’s a yearlong wait for a few months of memories and experiences. Be sure to make the most of it while you’re there and celebrate it. Dance, sing and cheer your heart out and enjoy it! After all, that’s why we all go.